a whole play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a whole play" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an entire theatrical performance or script, emphasizing completeness. Example: "After reading the synopsis, I decided to watch the whole play to fully appreciate the story and characters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"I wrote a whole play about that place," Mr. Fierstein said.

The New York Times

Does the narrative as a whole play out on a college campus?

The New Yorker

Adam Jones, the center fielder, said Showalter had imparted only one message to the team as a whole: play smart.

The New York Times

I was like, okay: I'll just write a whole play to tell white people what to do.

The Washington Post

In her second year, she caused a stir among her fellow students by performing a whole play in the nude.

The Guardian

"We had the 'stagger through' today – that's our hard-wired euphemism for the first time you run a whole play together". And what did she think?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The orchestra as a whole played well.

The New York Times - Arts

The ensemble retired as a whole, playing its final concerts this season.

The New York Times - Arts

"The provider community, as a whole, plays a critical role," his veto message said, "and many of their concerns reflected in this bill are legitimate".

The New York Times

Its waterways also provide transport, and the region as a whole plays an important role in climate stabilization (see climate change).

Britannica

It is a nasty development when our society as a whole plays the part of a sheet-sniffing hack from a Sunday rag.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a play, use "a whole play" to emphasize the completeness of the work, especially when contrasting it with excerpts or adaptations. For example, "To truly appreciate the playwright's vision, one should experience a whole play, not just select scenes."

Common error

Avoid using "a whole play" when a simpler term like "the play" suffices. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose. Opt for conciseness when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a whole play" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to the complete theatrical work, emphasizing its entirety. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is generally considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

17%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a whole play" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a complete theatrical performance. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered correct and usable in written English. The phrase is common across various contexts, especially in news and media. It emphasizes the entirety of the theatrical work, often in contrast to excerpts or adaptations. While alternatives such as "an entire play" and "the full play" exist, "a whole play" is a concise and widely understood way to refer to a complete dramatic production.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an entire play

Focuses on the completeness and entirety of the theatrical work.

a complete drama

Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the dramatic work.

the full play

Highlights that all parts of play are included.

the entire theatrical production

Specifically points to the full scope of the theatrical event.

a theatrical piece in its entirety

Stresses the unbroken and total nature of the play.

a staged drama from start to finish

Focuses on the experience of seeing play from beginning to end.

the complete theatrical work

Highlights that the play meets all the required elements and is not missing anything.

the overall play

Refers to a play in general, considering all the elements.

the undiminished play

Focuses on no part being excluded from the overall performance.

a full-length play

Refers to a play having standard duration or not being shortened.

FAQs

How can I use "a whole play" in a sentence?

You can use "a whole play" to emphasize the complete theatrical experience, such as, "The director aimed to capture the essence of the story by presenting "a whole play" without cuts or alterations".

What can I say instead of "a whole play"?

You can use alternatives like "an entire play", "a complete drama", or "the full play" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the whole play" instead of "a whole play"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "The whole play" implies a specific play already under discussion, while "a whole play" refers to the concept of experiencing a play in its entirety.

What is the difference between "a whole play" and "the entire play"?

"A whole play" generally emphasizes completeness and experiencing the play from beginning to end. "The entire play" also means complete, but can emphasize that no parts have been omitted or that everything is included, offering only a subtle difference in nuance.